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South African National Parks offers a variety of accommodation types and standards. Prices are
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Parks offer park/camp-run accommodation. Each park/camp has its own unique selection of
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Conserving nature since 1926

National parks offer visitors an unparalleled diversity of adventure tourism opportunities including
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I live near your brother and mother! I reported it. Got away unscathed as had a load of coins in my coat pocket which I flung at his feet before running away. He pulled a knife asking for my phone. Could have been a lot worse. I should have listened to him and not risked it. I was cutting through Hyde Park in the dark in winter - about 7pm.

I am sure you will agree though that Tim Robinson can have a lovely time hiking in the areas I recommended?

Graham_5000 wrote:I live near your brother and mother! I reported it. Got away unscathed as had a load of coins in my coat pocket which I flung at his feet before running away. He pulled a knife asking for my phone. Could have been a lot worse. I should have listened to him and not risked it. I was cutting through Hyde Park in the dark in winter - about 7pm.

I am sure you will agree though that Tim Robinson can have a lovely time hiking in the areas I recommended?

I am not a hiker Graham, so would not advise anyone on the safety of hiking in any areas of the Cape. Although, last time I was there it was beautiful walking around the Bay with my host.

It may not have been the best idea for you to walk through a park at night although, many do it and I used to cut through St James' Park at night when I worked in the area.

The month of November was particularly dry and windy and TMNP fire officials therefore expect a busy fire season in the months ahead. The expected adverse weather conditions will lead to an increase of fire flare-ups during this coming season.

The Park’s preparation for the 2012/13 fire season was severely tested over the past two days with four fires across the peninsula: one in Newlands Forest on Tuesday 4 December, and two on Wednesday 5 December – the first between Deer Park Drive and Molteno Road on the lower slopes of Table Mountain in the early hours of the morning and the second on Ou Kaapse Weg around midday. A fourth fire was reported in Ocean View also on Wednesday 5 December.

The current status of the fire at Deer Park:

There is still a lot of smoke in the area due to stumps still smouldering. The current crews will be replaced by fresh crews at 16h00 on Wednesday who will monitor the area over the next two days to ensure that the blaze is completely extinguished.

The TMNP fire crews, which includes the Volunteer Wildfire Services, are assisted by crews from the government-funded Working on Fire (WoF) programme as well as 2 medium size helicopters (one contracted through WoF and another supplied by the Provincial Disaster Management) stationed at the SANParks Fire Base at Newlands. They are on high alert and all resources will be dispatched immediately when a fire call is received from anywhere within the Park.

Due to an agreement signed between TMNP and the WoF Programme, TMNP will also be able to call in additional resources (hand crews as well as helicopters and fixed-wing aircraft) during periods of extended attack.

TMNP fire officials requests the public to exercise extreme caution during the fire season and to only braai in designated braai areas, not make any illegal fires and to discard cigarette butts safely and not by throwing them out of vehicle windows.

The general public is also requested to immediately report all fires within TMNP at 0861 106 417 or the City of Cape Town Fire Services at 107 or 021 480 7700 (from a cell phone).

Was in CT a week ago and thankfully didn't see any fires on the Table. We wanted to hike up Skeleton Gorge, but the constant and ubiquitous warnings about potential muggings deterred us; especially the ladies. I'd absolutely love to do this walk, but am now not sure whether it is worth the risk. My gut instinct tells me that, if the hike was indeed too dangerous, then the paths would be closed by officials. I will research more and consider an avenue forward next time we go. Pity I didn't get to read this thread before I left as things recently do look a lot better on TMNP.

I have suggested to the Table Mountain National Park that they should provide adequate security by employing sufficient wardens . The big problem of course is financial---but I reckon this could easily be overcome by charging for entrance to the Mountain including Sandy Bay area. I have suggested a Day Pass be set at R50 which tourists can easily afford ----and CT Residents can buy a Green Card for yearly access. The Revenue from charging for access would enable the Parks Board to employ extra wardens which would increase the safety factor which would bring in more revenue . CAN MORE PEOPLE WRITE TO THE TMNP TO SUPPORT MY SUGGESTION PLEASE.